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Jewish Women, Amplified

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Ilana Jacobs

Ilana Jacobs is a Senior at Gann Academy in Waltham, Massachusetts. She is the editor in chief of her school's satirical and literary magazines, the captain of the math team, leader of poetry club, assistant editor of a student perspective magazine, a member of the mock trial team, a leader of a feminist minyan at her school, and a student advisor for freshman. She also plays soccer, basketball and lacrosse. In her spare time she enjoys writing, reading trashy YA fantasy, watching Doctor Who, or listening to Passenger.

“Where are you thinking about going to college?” I’ve been asked this question by almost everyone I know. It feels like after your bat mitzvah, there’s a second rite of passage that no one tells you about: college decisions. Since the winter of Junior year, every conversation seems to take a turn towards schools. The question, “How are you?” has been replaced with, “How are the applications coming?”

Every “perfect girl” I have ever met has been so humble, that they can turn a compliment into self-deprecation. It is so unbearably heartbreaking to me that these girls who are so marvelous all don’t know how marvelous they are. But the truly terrifying truth is that their humility and self-consciousness seem to be an essential part of being the “perfect girl.”

To ask for the space you need is a daunting, terrifying task. But to take the space you need without permission? That’s even more challenging. Emma Goldman and Avigail Antman are two women who refused to settle for less, and who weren’t afraid to demand more.

Video games are inherently sexist. I’ve accepted this fact as true and immutable ever since I began playing multiplayer games. From the way they’re marketed towards boys and the sexist character designs, to the anonymous players’ offensive language, everything about video games seems to scream at me: YOU ARE NOT MEANT TO BE HERE!